Niagara Falls, New York, is home to one of the most powerful natural spectacles in North America. More than 3,000 tons of water pour over the edge every second, creating a thunderous roar and a rising mist that can be felt from blocks away. Visitors can stand just feet from the American Falls at Prospect Point or take the iconic Maid of the Mist boat tour, which has operated since 1846 and now features all-electric vessels.

Ankara, the capital of Turkey, sits on the Anatolian plateau and reflects the country’s layered history more quietly than Istanbul, yet with equal depth.

Samarkand is one of Central Asia’s most storied cities, famed for its role as a crossroads of culture, science, and trade along the Silk Road. The heart of the city is the Registan, a grand square framed by three ornate madrasas decorated with vivid mosaics, intricate tilework, and soaring arches.

The Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island is a place where coastline and culture come alive in ways that stay with visitors long after they’ve left. Stretching for about 110 kilometers between the Hauraki Gulf and the Bay of Plenty, this region has deep roots that go back to the arrival of Māori long before Europeans stepped ashore.

Izamal, located in the heart of Yucatán, stands out as a city where centuries of history are layered in plain sight. Known as the “City of Three Cultures,” it combines ancient Maya ruins, Spanish colonial architecture, and modern-day Yucatecan life. One of the most striking features of Izamal is its golden-yellow buildings, painted this distinctive color in honor of Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1993.